The first of nine children, Sheikh Serag Makki Johaar was born in Mecca on Sunday, 17 September 1950CE, 5 Dhul Hijjah 1369AH. His parents, Al Marhoom Haji Cassiem and Al Marhoomah Hajja Zainab (“Naa”, as she is called), had lodged with Sayed ’Umar Wali in Mecca at the time of his birth. Sayed ’Umar was the son of Sayed Serag Wali; Sayed Serag was the son of Sayed Zain Wali. Al Marhoom Haji Cassiem and Al Marhoomah Hajja Zainab Johaar named their son after Sayed Serag; the baby’s middle name was taken after the Holy City.

Sheikh Serag’s first name was misspelt at the birth registration offices in Cape Town. He grew up in the Schotsche Kloof Flats at 81 Tana Baru Street, Bo-Kaap. As a young man, he had memorised the contents of the Glorious Qur’an under the tutelage of the pious Sheikh Muhammad Salih Abadi Solomons (d. 1999).

Serag was barely sixteen when he led the tarāwih salāh at the Habibia Soofie Masjid. The tarāwih salāh is optional prayer that is read in congregation, or on one’s own, by Muslims during the evenings of the Holy Month of Ramadhān. Hafith Serag acquitted himself with an assurance that far belied his youth as he recited the entire Holy Book off pat. Behind him in prayer stood some of the legends of Cape Islām – Imam Abdul Kariem Kagee al-Chishtī (1912-1986), Imam Abdullatief “Babu” Purkar al-Qādirī al-Chishtī (1926-2004) and Maulānā Goolam Kootboodien Kagee al-Chishtī (b. 1939). Sheikh Serag Johaar went on to study in Mecca and Indo-Pak, and has been back to the Hijaz many times since. He is the imam at the Nurul Islam Masjid and teaches Muslims their religion.